diff --git a/chapter08/kernel.xml b/chapter08/kernel.xml
index cb88bc77c..5682b23ce 100644
--- a/chapter08/kernel.xml
+++ b/chapter08/kernel.xml
@@ -7,8 +7,16 @@ Estimated required disk space:  &kernel-compsize;</screen>
 <para>Building the kernel involves a few steps: configuring it and compiling
 it. There are a few ways to configure the kernel. If you don't like the
 way this book does it, read the <filename>README</filename> that comes
-with the kernel source tree, and find out what the options are. The 
-following commands are run to build the kernel:</para>
+with the kernel source tree, and find out what the options are.</para>
+
+<para>Something you could do, is take the .config file from your host
+distribution's kernel source tree and copy it to $LFS/usr/src/linux.
+This way you don't have to configure the entire kernel from scratch and
+can use your current values. If you choose to do this, first run the
+make mrproper command below, then copy the .config file over, then run
+make menuconfig.</para>
+
+<para>The following commands are run to build the kernel:</para>
 
 <para><screen><userinput>cd /usr/src/linux &amp;&amp;</userinput>
 <userinput>make mrproper &amp;&amp;</userinput>